10/22/2009 – ... was only one of White's problems here after 21... Qxg2, since Black not only threatens 22...Qxe2, but also to take the whole kingside apart.
What is the best continuation for the first player?
A) 22.Nxe6
B) 22.Rd8
C) 22.Bf1

The solution is here, but first ponder over it with a  larger version of the diagram.

10/22/2009 – After returning safely to Earth from the 128th mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program, during which he played a game of chess against the readers of a Swedish newspaper, the astronaut Christer Fuglesang was given a prize (in spite of losing the game). It was a Rybka program, signed by five World Champions. One of his reader opponents received a similar prize. Illustrated report with videos.

10/22/2009 – "I am very unhappy to inform that I have withdrawn my participation in the Asian Indoor Games 2009 to be held at Vietnam due to some nasty circumstances caused by Mr. D.V. Sundar, Secretary, All India Chess Federation." That is the start of a press release sent to us by Koneru Humpy, the second strongest female player in the world, and the second to cross the 2600 rating mark. Humpy's protest.

10/22/2009 – December is cold and wet in most of Europe. In Spain it is warm and sunny – very nice to spend a few days playing in an interesting Open. Here's your chance: take part in our special qualifier on the Playchess server this Sunday and win accommodation and participation in the VIII Benidorm Chess Festival. In addition there are valuable software packages to be won. Give it a try.

10/21/2009 – The endgame Carlsen-Wang Yue, which was presented last week by GM Karsten Mueller for ChessBase Magazine Online, one variation ended in the diagrammed position with two knights against two pawns. This position is won for the knights' side although, as is well known, two knights alone can't force checkmate. Pivotal for victory is on which square a remaining pawn has to be blocked, determining the so-called Troitzky line.
Since this has led to many requests, Karsten Mueller will explain the subject once more in detail in the following.

10/21/2009 – Viacheslav Ragozin, who passed away in 1962, was one of the trainers of Mikhail Botvinnik. He became famous for blowing smoke into the legendary World Champion's face in order to steel the non-smoker for opponents who did the same. In his Wednesday night Playchess lecture Dennis Monokroussos shows us Ragozin at his best against Andor Lilienthal. Be there at 9 p.m. ET or 3 a.m. CEST.

10/21/2009 – Behind the kings of the chess world, there’s a crack team of knights – or ‘seconds’, as they are called. They work day and night, and spend months together locked up, and once in a while they want to break the tension. In the team of World Champion Viswanathan Anand Coldplay is staple music, but "the guys now also listen to Tamil music." Jaideep Unudurti reports on Outlook Business.

10/20/2009 – It used to be known as the Essent Tournament, but the 13th edition of this chess festival has a new sponsor, the Dutch insurance company Univé. There are a number of sections, including a strong international Open. Of greatest interest is the Crown Group, a four-player double round robin, with Vassily Ivanchuk, Sergei Tiviakov, Judit Polgar and 15-year-old Anish Giri. Round two report.

10/19/2009 – If an author himself plays what he is writing about, this is certainly an advantage. If on top of that he has been employing a variation for almost 20 years successfully against the strongest opponents, then anything he has to say is a revelation. Michal Krasenkow is the greatest specialist of the King's Indian with 6.h3. In his three-part article (CBM 132-134), he lets you in on plans, ideas, variations and secrets of this somewhat underrated system against the King's Indian. Here is the complete Part 1 which deals with lines without 6...e5. The DVD of CBM 132 contains eleven further opening articles. Krasenkow: King's Indian with 6.h3

10/19/2009 – Johan Golden is a Norwegian TV host and a colorful figure in the country's comedy, musical and political scene. In his show Golden Goal he recently had a special guest: Magnus Carlsen, Norway's chess wonder and one of the greatest sports heros the country has had. A light-hearted trademark Golden exchange (in Nowegian) ensues. We bring you a video and English transcript.

10/19/2009 – Bulgaria's newly elected Prime Minister, Boyko Metodiev Borissov, has delivered a three million Euro guarantee for the World Championship match Anand vs Topalov to be held in Sofia next year. "I personally guarantee the budget of three million euro for the match and we will be ready to transfer the money and to sign the contract with FIDE in two months from now," Borissov writes. Facsimile.

10/18/2009 – The Schachbundesliga is the strongest team competition in the world. The 2009/10 season started this weekend, with the top matches taking place in Solingen, where the German champion Baden-Baden faced the top teams of Solingen and Remagen, Eppingen, Wattenscheid and Hamburg, where we spent a pleasant afternoon watching the action. Pictures, results and games.